Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals
Encyclopedia
The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, also known as “the Sammies,” honor stars of the Federal government workforce, highlighting the work of employees making significant contributions to the governance of the United States
. The awards are considered "the Oscars” of American government service. The Sammies accordingly celebrate excellence in the federal merit service.
The “Sammies” finalists are those federal employees confronting complex issues of governance, including environmental, national security, and economic challenges. One criterion of the award is to qualify from among a dynamic group of talented, bright individuals working on behalf of the American people. The awards are organized and presented by the non-profit organization Partnership for Public Service
.
to celebrate excellence in our federal civil service. In 2007, the Sammies held a second swanky ceremony at Cipriani
on Manhattan's 42 Street. It was a high society affair, with 750 “A” list guests attending. Among the Sammy winners was that year was founder Samuel J. Heyman
's long-time associate, Joseph Lieberman. At the Waldorf Astoria in 2006, Senator John McCain
received a Sammy. And in 2005, the honoree was Hank Paulson, then at Goldman Sachs, and later the Secretary of the Treasury. According to news reporting, the Partnership for Public Service
awarding the Sammies was conceived after Heyman discovered that a mere 3 per cent of Harvard University Law School students took public sector work at commencement. The figure was 30 per cent in the 1960s, when Heyman graduated from Harvard in 1963 to join the Robert F. Kennedy
-run Justice Department. Heyman is from New York City
and was active in the 1980s junk bond market, working in tandem with Michael Milken
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The awards are considered "the Oscars” of American government service. The Sammies accordingly celebrate excellence in the federal merit service.
Selection Process
The Sammies are chosen from nominations collected each winter, and winnowed down to 32 finalists announced mid-spring of each year. The 32 finalists are assessed, and from their ranks, nine awardees are selected by early fall. The Sammy selection committee is composed of nationally-known journalists, political leaders, educators, and executives of large corporations. The eight awards cover the various sectors of federal public service. Honorees are chosen for their commitment and innovation, as well as the impact of their work on addressing the needs of the republic. Awardees are announced each fall at a dinner and awards ceremony in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
The “Sammies” finalists are those federal employees confronting complex issues of governance, including environmental, national security, and economic challenges. One criterion of the award is to qualify from among a dynamic group of talented, bright individuals working on behalf of the American people. The awards are organized and presented by the non-profit organization Partnership for Public Service
Partnership for Public Service
The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. whose mission is to inspire a new generation of civil servants and transform the way government works....
.
Awards’ Organizers
The awards have been presented annually since 2002 by the nonprofit, nonpartisan Partnership for Public ServicePartnership for Public Service
The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. whose mission is to inspire a new generation of civil servants and transform the way government works....
to celebrate excellence in our federal civil service. In 2007, the Sammies held a second swanky ceremony at Cipriani
Cipriani
Cipriani may refer to:* Amilcare Cipriani , Italian anarchist* Arthur Andrew Cipriani , a Trinidad and Tobago labour leader and politician* Danny Cipriani, English rugby player* Frank A...
on Manhattan's 42 Street. It was a high society affair, with 750 “A” list guests attending. Among the Sammy winners was that year was founder Samuel J. Heyman
Samuel J. Heyman
Samuel J. Heyman was an American businessman, corporate raider, hedge fund owner, and philanthropist. He was best known for his longtime chairmanship of the GAF Materials Corporation and International Specialty Products....
's long-time associate, Joseph Lieberman. At the Waldorf Astoria in 2006, Senator John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
received a Sammy. And in 2005, the honoree was Hank Paulson, then at Goldman Sachs, and later the Secretary of the Treasury. According to news reporting, the Partnership for Public Service
Partnership for Public Service
The Partnership for Public Service is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C. whose mission is to inspire a new generation of civil servants and transform the way government works....
awarding the Sammies was conceived after Heyman discovered that a mere 3 per cent of Harvard University Law School students took public sector work at commencement. The figure was 30 per cent in the 1960s, when Heyman graduated from Harvard in 1963 to join the Robert F. Kennedy
Robert F. Kennedy
Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy , also referred to by his initials RFK, was an American politician, a Democratic senator from New York, and a noted civil rights activist. An icon of modern American liberalism and member of the Kennedy family, he was a younger brother of President John F...
-run Justice Department. Heyman is from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and was active in the 1980s junk bond market, working in tandem with Michael Milken
Michael Milken
Michael Robert Milken is an American business magnate, financier, and philanthropist noted for his role in the development of the market for high-yield bonds during the 1970s and 1980s, for his 1990 guilty plea to felony charges for violating US securities laws, and for his funding of medical...
.